Colton Herta was about to be taken to AlphaTauri, but the FIA got in the way.
Colton Herta is driving his fourth full season in the IndyCar series. EPA / AOP
Drivers competing in the IndyCar series are furious with the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA). Indy driver Colton Hearts is rumored for the formula one AlphaTauri overalls Pierre Gaslyn in place of. The problem is that the FIA policy does not allow the transfer to take place.
F1 drivers need a super license to participate in the royalty class. One way to get a license is to collect 40 points in lower class motorsport competitions. Herta does not meet this requirement.
Only the winner of Indy gets the coveted 40 points for a super license, while the two best in the Formula 2 class collect the same number of points at the end of the season.
AlphaTauri’s owner company, Red Bull, has tried to get a proposal through in order to get Herta into the F1 series with an exemption. The formula boss Stefano Domenicali did not warm to the idea, but emphasized compliance with the adjustments in license matters.
Indy drivers have come to defend Herta and his right to move to formula one.
Motor Racing Network commentator and Sirius XM radio host Dave Moody said F1 was only interested in American dollars, not drivers. Herta’s rival Graham Rahal answered Moody on Twitter to a strict tone.
– You are absolutely right. F1 is a sport for the elitists. They don’t want us, remember that, Rahal, who drove six times to Indy race wins, said.
– Those who say that Colton Herta did not deserve justice are wrong. He is a talented and deserving winner. F1 has had drivers for years who are nowhere near the same level as Herta.
The last time an American driver was seen in an F1 competition was in 2015. Current Indy driver Alexander Rossi was then at the wheel of Manor Marussian for a few races.
Rossi also took a stand on Herta’s situation after a long silence. The former Formula 1 driver said he understood scoring points as a motivator, but still considered the FIA’s decision wrong.
– Unfortunately, recent decisions due to compulsion or greed cost Colton the opportunity to decide on his own career path, not the license points, Rossi shared on Twitter.
– Motorsport is still the most prestigious sport in the world, where money can spur talent.
The 22-year-old promise has driven seven wins and 11 podiums in Indy. In 2020, he was third in the entire series. Herta has also been at the wheel of McLaren this season as a test driver.
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